House Siege More Like Pizza Party

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA — The atmosphere at President Eric Arturo Delvalle`s home late Thursday night seemed more like a joyless cocktail party than a siege.

Although troops dressed in full commando gear surrounded his house, Delvalle appeared calm and composed, and his wife was the perfect hostess. She went around distributing glasses of wine and Coke to those on hand, including U.S. Ambassador Arthur Davis and the papal nuncio, Jose Sebastian Laboa.

``This is the worst pizza in Panama City, but it is the only one that would deliver tonight,`` said the president`s son, Eric Arturo Delvalle Jr.

The president refused to eat it, saying, ``I never eat that pizza.``

The soldiers outside the house were not such epicures. As soon as the delivery truck backed out, they began placing their pizza orders.

The president`s son told a reporter, ``The Defense Forces are trying to get the president to resign for health reasons, but he does not want to resign. Everyone here is sticking with him.``

President Delvalle has heart trouble.

After an announcer appeared on television and said the Defense Forces were supporting military leader Manuel Antonio Noriega, the president smiled. ``I wonder how long this one is going to last,`` he said. ``They are the de facto government. They have all the guns, all the power.

``I would hope they would not use the weapons against us, the taxpayers who bought them. It would be a sad thing if the army did not obey the civilian government.``

Hours later the legislative National Assembly adopted a resolution to remove Delvalle as president from office, contending he violated the constitution by trying to fire Noriega.